Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Palestinian President, Jordan King Agree to Form Joint ‘Crisis Unit’ | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wave during a reception ceremony in the West Bank city of Ramallah, August 7, 2017. (Reuters)


Ramallah – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II agreed to form a joint crisis unit to promote cooperation between Ramallah and Amman in issues of mutual concern.

Following a meeting between Jordan’s King and Abbas in Ramallah, Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riyad al-Maliki underlined the importance of the monarch’s visit in assessing Israeli violations against the al-Aqsa Mosque.

“We discussed all issues of mutual interest and we agreed to form a crisis committee that will continue contacts to evaluate what has happened, the lessons to be learned and the challenges we may face at al-Aqsa mosque,” Maliki told reporters.

Maliki added that discussions between Abbas and Abdullah have also touched on the US-led efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have been suspended for the past three years.

He stated that Israel must “recognize the principle of a two-state solution and end provocative settlement activity that is designed to prevent the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.”

The Jordanian king flew in to Ramallah by military helicopter, in his first visit in five years. He was accompanied by the head of the Royal Diwan Fayez al-Tarwana, Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, head of Jordanian Intelligence Adnan al-Jundi and Jordan’s Ambassador to Palestine Khaled al-Shawabka.

Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the King’s visit was aimed at conveying multiple messages.

“The most important message is that there are no Palestinian-Jordanian disputes over the Al-Aqsa Mosque and that any tension or misunderstanding that emerged during the crisis has been resolved,” the sources said.

“The second message is that President Abbas has every possible support from King Abdullah in the face of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The third message is retaliation to Netanyahu himself, for provoking the Jordanian government and people,” they added.

An official at Fatah Movement’s media office highlighted “major dimensions” in King Abdullah’s visit to Palestine.

Mounir Jagoub told Asharq Al-Awsat that the most important message was that Jordan “shares the responsibility” of supporting the Palestinian people.